Hat-brim-stretching machine.



. PATENTED DEG. 22, 190s.l

J. H. TARBBLL. HAT BRIM STRETCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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l Z2/f 5. fla k lrhw PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

J. H. TARBELL. HAT BRIM STRETCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FI'LED MAY 7. 1903.

3 SHBETS-SEET 2.

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Inventor,

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PATENTE'D DB0. 22, wos.y

J.- H. TARBELL. Y HAT BMM STRETGHING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIN FILED MAY 7. 1903.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

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Inventor,

Joseph H. Taflns'l]7 by la Wim@ ases;

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VUNITED STATES atented becemoer 22'?, 1903. PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. TARBELL, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE EICKEMEYER dz: OSTERHELD `MFGr CO., OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HAT-BRIIVI-STRETCHING MACHINE.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,503, dated December 22, 1903. .alienation nea May 7, 1903'. serial No. 156,099. (No moda.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. TARBELL, a citizen of the United States oi America, and a resident of Yonkers,county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat- Brim-Stretching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement is particularly designed for use in connection with -a power brimstl'etching machine similar to that illustrated in United States Letters Patent to Rudolph Eickemeyer, No. 175,953, dated April 11, 1876, wherein the brim of the hat is supported by a ribbed former and stretched by a series of brim-stretching fingers, which are reciprocated by power and act on the upper side of the hat-brim while the brim is supported from below by the expanded ribs ofthe ribbed former.` The ribs of the former are expanded by means of a hand-lever to press the brim against the stretching-fingers.

One feature of my invention consists in the provision of a suitable elastic cushion, preferably in the form of a coil-spring, which is interposed in the connections between the hand-lever and the expanding mechanism for the ribs of the former, the object being to limit the force with which the ribs are expanded, and the hat-brim is pressed against the reciprocating brim-stretching fingers, thereby avoiding the danger of tearing the hat-brim.

A further feature of my invention consists in the provision of means for locking the hand-lever in its operated position, so that the spring may be relied upon wholly to de- 'termine the force with which .the hat-brim is supported against the action of the reciprocatin g brim-stretching fingers and the hand of the operator is relieved from the strain of holding the lever in proper adjustment and is relieved from the jarring action due to the impact of the brim-stretching fingers with the hat-brim, which is transmitted through the hat-brim to the expanded ribs and the connections to the interposed spring, which acts as a suitable buffer.

In further explanation of the invention ref- 5o erence will be made to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, which form a part of this speciticaton, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a brimstretching machine with my invention, one of the bearings and the driving pulleys-of the power-shaft being broken away and the upper part of one of the side frames being also broken away and the annular top plate and cross-head for supporting the bri m-stretching iingers being inv section on va plane through the axis of the machine. The ribbed former is shown in its raised and expanded position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe machine, part of the cross-framing being broken away to show the power-shaft, and the ribbed former is shown in its lowered position. Fig. 3 shows the ribbed former in its raised position, but not expanded, together with the togglelevers for expanding the ribs, and the lever which impacts 'against and operates the toggles. Fig. 4 is a View of the same parts, showing the ribbed former in its expanded position. Fig 5 is a perspectiveview of the handlever, rock-shaft, lever mounted on the rockshaft for operating the toggle, and the interposed spring, which constitute a portion of the connections for expanding the ribbed former. Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing a modified form of the outsidevlever-arm on the rock-shaft for operating the toggle with a ball-and-socket seat for the spring. l

Near the top ofthe machine are twelve brim-stretching fingers d, circularly arranged around a vertical axis. Each of these is braced, so that'it has the form of a pendent triangle. The triangles are pivoted at their upper and outer corners in bearings a', which are attached to the under side of an annular top plate a2, and at their upper and inner cornersthey are connected by links e to the central annular portion of a cross-head e. This cross-head is secured to the upper ends of vertically-sliding rods f, which are located and suitably guided one on each sideof `the machine. These rods are reciprocated Vertically from a .power-shaft B, which is journaled in the lower part of the framework of the machine', and a rapid vibratory motion is communicated from cranks b on the powershaft through pitmen b' to the side rods f.

IDO

This motion is in turn communicated to the cross-head, and the lower ends of the stretching-fingers are thereby rocked to and from the vertical axis about which they are arranged. Below the stretchingfingers is a ribbed former, consisting of a shell or hollow block m, with longitudinal slots through which ribs it project. The ribbed formeris mounted on a vertically-sliding rod z' and can be elevated to a position between the stretching-fingers by depressing a treadle G. The treadle has two side pieces fulcrumed at the rear of the machine to a shaft k and connected between the pad of the treadle and the fulcrum by links 7c to rock-shaft levers k2, mounted on a horizontal rock-shaft Z. Two rods Z2 connect arms of the rock-shaft lever with a crosshead Z', which is attached to the rod t'. The ribs it correspond in number with the stretch ing-ngers and are staggered in relation thereto. They are inclined downwardly and outwardly from the block and form the expanding portion of the ribbed former. They are hinged at their upper ends to the rim of a central rib-block n, which is secured t0 the upper end of the rod t'. The ribs are spread by means of links o, one of which connects each rib with the rim of a circular ribplate p, arranged to slide vertically on the rod t'. When the rib-plate is pushed u pwardly on the rod c', the ribs are pushed npwardly and outwardly, thereby expanding the ribbed portion of the ribbed former. The upper ends of two parallel lifting-levers q pass through slots in the circular rib-plate and are seated in sockets in the sides ot' the hub of the rib-plate. The lifting-levers q are jointed at their lower ends to the upper ends of two other levers q', and these other levers are pivoted at their lower ends to the block Z', which is fixed on the rod t'. The two sets of levers form a toggle which when pressed at or near its joint to straighten it pushes the rib plate upwardly and expands the ribbed former. This toggle is pressed by a lever r on a rock-shaft 7", which is journaled in the framework of the machine. At one end of the rock-shaft is aforked lever r2, which is preferably made in two parts, each of which is pinned to the rock-shaft. The forked lever is operated from a hand-lever s, the connections being from the hand-lever through a forked rod 3, which is pivoted to the handlever and has a stem which passes through a sleeve s2. The sleeve is provided with trunnions,which are engaged by the forks of the lever r2. A spring t is interposed between the sleeve s2 and the nut t', which is threaded to the end of the stem of the forked rod s. lVhen the lever is operated, the force transmitted to ',the rock-shaft, and therefore which is expended in expanding the ribbed former,is limited by the tension ofthe spring. The nut t' serves to adjust the tension of the spring. The forked end of the forked rod is curved, and the hand-lever is also curved, and the parts are so mounted that when the lever is fully drawn forward the point of connection between the hand-lever and the forked rod will be brought in front of the fulcrum of the hand-lever and into line with the fulcrum and point of connection with the forked lever of the rock-shaft. The hand-lever will consequently be on a deadcenter when operated and, in effect, locked in this position, so that the hand can be removed aud the lever will not be retracted either by the action of the spring or any power exerted against the expanded ribs of the ribbed former.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6 the forked lever of the rock-shaft is of slightlydifferent form. The forks r3 are brought together at their lower ends, thereby forming an elongated eye,through which the shank of the rod s' is passed. A spherical socket is formed in the rear edges of the forks, and a ball-faced washer s3 sets therein. The spring presses against the ball-faced washer.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a brim-stretching machine, the combination with a series of brim-stretching fingers, power mechanism for reciprocating the fingers, a ribbed former, expanding mechanism for the ribbed former, a hand-lever, and connections for operating the expanding mechanism from the hand-lever, and an elastic cushion interposed in the connections between the hand lever and the expanding mechanism, substant-iall i as described.

2. In a brim-stretching machine, the combination with a series of brim-stretching fingers, power mechanism for reciprocating the lingers, a ribbed former, expanding mechanism for the ribbed former, a hand-lever arranged to lock in its operated position, connections for operating the expanding mechanism from the hand-lever, and an elastic cushion interposed in the connections between the hand lever and the expanding mechanism, substantially as described.

Signed by me atYonkers, New York, this 6th day of May, 1903.

JOSEPH H. TARBELL.

W tnesses:

SAMUEL W. BALCH, GEO. EICKEMEYER.

IXO 

